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Before Elizabeth could reply, the door burst open and Mr. Collins rushed in.

He bowed before the visitor. “Lady Catherine, what a surprise! I am sorry I was not able to receive you as soon as you entered the house.” He turned an accusing eye on his cousin.

“I was not immediately made aware of your entrance . I heard your voice and hurried to attend you.”

Lady Catherine looked at her rector and sniffed.

“I came to speak to Miss Bennet and do not require assistance. You may, however, remain.” She turned once more toward Elizabeth.

“As I was saying, I have it on good authority that you have engaged yourself to my nephew. Though I knew it must be a malicious falsehood, I immediately came here to make my sentiments known.”

“I cannot imagine how you would have heard about any betrothal of mine. We have no prior acquaintance.”

“I wrote to her, Cousin Elizabeth. It-”

Lady Catherine cut Mr. Collins off as though he had not spoken at all. “Impertinent girl! What if I were to tell you that you cannot be engaged to him, because he is promised to my daughter? What do you say to that?”

Elizabeth shrugged. She was the picture of indifference, though she was beginning to seethe inside. She unclenched her jaw long enough to reply but the rest of her body was held tightly. “If that is so, you cannot suppose him to have proposed to me. Do you believe him to be so dishonorable?”

“Cousin! You should not-” Again, Mr. Collins’ words were cut off by those of his patroness.

“He is not dishonorable in the least, but you, with your arts and allurements, may have turned his head and made him forget what he owes to his family and his duty.”

Elizabeth scoffed at her adversary’s words. “Arts and allurements? What arts and allurements? He compromised me, not the other way around.”

At that, Lady Catherine began to abuse Elizabeth most abominably. Mr. Collins was not shy about joining his voice to hers, and the volume of their voices became quite high.

For her part, Elizabeth refused to partake in a second row, considering how closely this one followed the one she had with her mother earlier in the day.

She stood with arms crossed and lips pressed together, waiting for the pair to wind down so she could dismiss them.

A single sudden, loud word stopped them in their tracks.

“Enough!”

Darcy strode into the room, placing himself between Elizabeth and his aunt.

“Who do you think you are to enter a home where you are unknown and abuse a daughter of the house?” Darcy’s fists were clenched and resting on his hips. His brows were drawn together over his eyes, a deep crease between them.

“I have been informed by my rector that you have engaged yourself to this …” Lady Catherine waved her hand in Elizabeth’s direction.

“Person. I have come to put a stop to it. You have been engaged to Anne since your infancy. You will denounce this woman and come with me to town. We will purchase a special license and you and my daughter will marry immediately.”

“I will not.” Darcy’s fists came off his hips to hang straight by his side.

“I have told you before, many times before, that I will not marry my cousin. I was not telling a falsehood when I said it. I love Miss Elizabeth Bennet, she has agreed to be my wife, and I will have her and no other. I would rather live the rest of my life alone and leave Pemberley to a stranger than to marry anyone but her.” When his aunt began to speak again, he cut her off, making a gesture with his hand.

“I do not want to hear it. You will leave this house at once. When you have gained control of your senses once more, you will apologize to Miss Elizabeth and to me.”

“Mr. Darcy, surely-”

“And take him with you,” Darcy said with a wave of his hand toward Collins. “Lest I make his life as miserable as he has made my Elizabeth’s.”

Though the lady protested mightily, Darcy touched her elbow and guided her to the door, escorting her through the house without a word.

Elizabeth followed and watched as he spoke quietly to his aunt before assisting her into her carriage.

He gave Collins a stern look, and the clergyman hustled up the step and into the equipage.

Darcy closed the door and called to the coachman to move on.

When his aunt’s barouche box had pulled out of the gate, Darcy turned to Elizabeth. He held his hands out to her, and she took them with her own.

“I apologize for my aunt. She had no right to speak to you in such a rude manner.” He shook his head. “She has always gotten away with doing such things for the simple reason that she is the daughter of an earl. She has forgotten what simple kindness is, if she ever even learned it.”

Elizabeth squeezed his hands. “It is well. I refused to engage in a second argument in one day, so I intended to let her go on until she wore herself out.” She sighed. “I have had enough quarrels for one day.”

Darcy’s thumbs caressed the backs of her hands. “No doubt.” He looked over her shoulder. “I need to apologize to your father, as well, and I would rather get it over with now than to wait. Do you mind?”

“Not at all.” Elizabeth turned, tucking her hand in the crook of his elbow as he joined her on the top step. She smiled up at him and allowed him to escort her into the house. When she reached the drawing room, she let him go, watching as he approached her father’s book room.